Sixty VIP guests on Tuesday attended a luxury dinner prepared by celebrity chef David Rocco in a sky-high setting in Ho Chi Minh City, where they tasted pho and special Italian-style dishes and wine ‘above the clouds.’

The party, entitled “Dolce Vita Above the Clouds,” was held at a restaurant on the 66th floor of the 81-story Landmark 81 building, Vietnam’s tallest skyscraper, as one of the last activities of Italian-Canadian chef Rocco during his days-long stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

Rocco, a celebrity chef, winemaker, and author of four cookbooks, is most known for producing and hosting the television series David Rocco's Dolce Vita.

With the new season of the series, titled Dolce Southeast Asia, set to feature different destinations in Southeast Asia, the 49-year-old chef and his production team have been in the Vietnamese city for more than ten days since the beginning of this month for the filming of two episodes.

Prior to Tuesday’s VIP party, the Italian-Canadian chef spent the whole afternoon of the same day preparing risotto to treat members of the press to Italia’s famous rice dish.

He also sat down for an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on this occasion.

Rocco announced in late March that he would shoot the new Dolce Southeast Asia series in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Asked why Vietnam was among the chosen destinations, the chef told Tuoi Tre that the country caught his eye for her reputation of organic cuisine with delicate and healthy cooking styles.

Rocco said it remains a common misconception that Vietnam is a country that has only recently overcome wars, so he wants to use his show to change that misbelief.

The chef said the two episodes filmed in Vietnam will help viewers know more about a modern Vietnam, as well as how fresh, delicious and exquisite its cuisine is and how friendly and hospitable the Vietnamese people are.

Particularly, pho - the famous Vietnamese noodle soup with beef - and street food which Rocco and his team had spent more than ten days exploring will be featured in Dolce Southeast Asia.

Rocco told Tuoi Tre what he likes about these dishes is that they are “fresh and green,” as they are often served with veggies which make them healthy food.

The chef revealed that there were days when he had two, even three, bowls of pho in a single day in order to learn how to cook the popular Vietnamese food.

Rocco said his pho may never be as delicious as what is made by veteran Vietnamese pho cooks with 60-70 years of experience.

“But I will combine Vietnamese seasonings with my cooking style to invent my own pho,” the celeb chef said.

Before Vietnam, Rocco finished shooting for the Dolce Southeast Asia series in Singapore and Malaysia.

The official title and airing schedule of the episodes remain undisclosed.

Growing up in Toronto in an Italian family, Rocco rose to stardom as the host and producer of the cooking and lifestyle TV series David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, which features himself, his wife and a group of friends exploring Italy’s cuisine and culture.

The show has found international success as it has been aired in more than 150 countries since its first broadcast in 2010.

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